CESI has strengthened its position in Middle East and Africa with these power projects. (Image source: Oran Viriyincy/Flickr)Engineering and power solutions provider CESI Middle East (CESI) has won three smart grid and high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) projects in Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan

CESI has been selected by the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO) and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) as the technical consultant for the power system Interconnector Project between Ethiopia and Kenya.

The project will be aimed at contributing to the integration of the electricity markets of the East African Power Pool through the interconnection of the two countries' power systems.

The interconnection will increase the supply of power and reduce the cost of electricity in Kenya, while generating additional revenues for Ethiopia through the export of electricity to Kenya.

CESI has been selected by the Electricity & Co-Generation Authority of Saudi Arabia (ECRA) to develop policies, specification requirements and an implementation plan for a smart metering and advanced metering infrastructure.

The company has also won a smart metering installation project in Uzbekistan from Uzbekenergo. The complete smart metering installation project, expected to be finalised by 2015, will allow for significant reductions to the current level of losses on the grid while reducing operating costs.

CESI Middle East managing director Floris Schulze said, “With the Middle East electricity market forecasted to grow at an accelerated rate over the next few years due to higher consumption rates, an implementation strategy is required in order to bridge the gap between supply and demand.

“A smart grid network makes for the ideal bridge where the goals of modernisation can meet those of reliable public infrastructure. Moreover, actions towards bridging the gaps are vital steps for the GCC region as it moves towards the development and implementation of newer, more advanced technologies and innovations.

“Smart metering and smart grids are a growing trend across the region and deserve serious consideration and the formulation of a strategic plan for their deployment,” Schulze added.